Global event on 3 March

The lyrics are not to be “political, controversial or sensitive” and no countries or persons should be named. This was the message sent to artist Hanna Cinthio a.k.a. Hanouneh when she was going to perform in Qatar. One of her songs – an empowering feminist anthem tackling patriarchal traditions, religious hypocrisy and sexual taboos – was on her playlist. How she bypassed the censors?

In this excellent half-hour documentary radio program produced by Brian King and Rex Bloomstein for BBC Radio 4 in February 2017, you will hear Deeyah Khan tell her story: How she was forced to flee Norway in the face of violent threats from her own Pakistani community aimed at stopping her singing. And Iranian singer Mahsa Vahdat explains how she feels about being banned from singing in her own country because she’s a woman.

MUSIC FREEDOM DAY 2017 SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

Did you know that…Women are banned from singing in public in some countries?Women cannot attend a concert in some places? The music industry is still unequal?

This is why Freemuse is focusing on women on Music Freedom Day on 3 March 2017

In Saudi Arabia and Iran, women performers are not allowed to sing solo or play instruments in public. In north-western Pakistan, women singers have been killed and attacked, and in several countries women performers are socially, culturally and economically marginalised. Globally, women musicians face especially difficult conditions and are often subject to industry discrimination, sexual objectification and significantly less bookings than male musicians.

This year’s Spotify Playlist features female voices that have been silenced. Make them heard by sharing this playlist and you automatically support Music Freedom Day.

SPOTIFY TRACKLIST:

• Aziza Brahim: ‘Buscando La Paz’ The authorities in Morocco censor her music because her songs are addressing the cause of the Sahrawi people in West Sahara who have been tortured, killed, or reported missing during the conflict that has driven hundreds of thousands Sahrawis into neighbouring Algeria. Read more on www.listentothebanned.com

• Sarah Jones featuring DJ Vadim: ‘Your Revolution’ The Oregon radio station, KBOO-FM, was fined $7,000 by the FCC for playing a song with “unmistakable patently offensive sexual references”, in which Sarah Jones references the iconic Gil-Scott Heron song with the message “You Revolution will not happen between these thighs”. Read more on www.freemuse.org

• Helly Luv: ‘Revolution’ Kurdish singer Helly Luv, 25, allegedly received death threats from ISIS Islamist militants since release of her first music video in February 2014. Read more on www.freemuse.org

• Rim Banna: ‘Sarah’ Palestinian singer who was not allowed to enter Egypt for concert. Read more on www.freemuse.org

• Dixie Chicks: ‘Not Ready To Make Nice’ This top selling band received death threats and where banned by hundreds of radio stations following a critical remark on President Bush (and the war on Iraq) at a concert in London in 2003. The band was silenced but returned triumphantly in 2006 with this song. Read more on www.freemuse.org

• Souad Massi: ‘Bladi’ She is the exiled voice of Algeria. The Algerian singer and guitarist’s music was banned in Algeria which she fled in 1999 and now lives in Paris. Read more on www.freemuse.org

• Mahsa Vahdat & Mighty Sam McClain: ‘Silent song’ Women are not allowed to perform solo in Iran. Mahsa Vahdat has established a career outside Iran, but is never played in Iran. Read more on www.listentothebanned.com

• Lucrecia: ‘La Noche de la Iguana’ Lucrecia left Cuba for Spain and is not allowed to return to the country. The reason? This song ‘La Noche de la Iguana’ (The Night Of The Iguana) – a freedom anthem from the album ‘Censuré à Cuba’. Read more on www.articles.chicagotribune.com

• [Freemuse Spotlight – by Comrade Fatso]

• Pussy Riot: ‘Keep on Rocking In the Free World’ Imprisoned for protesting against Vladimir Putin, Pussy Riot can not perform on regular stages in Russia neither would state controlled media play this song). Read more on www.freemuse.org

• I.A: ‘Paper Planes’ Censored by MTV due to gunshots in the rhythm. Read more on www.billboard.com

• Amy Winehouse: ‘Rehab’ Winehouse was banned twice from performing in the US. Read more on www.billboard.com

• Billie Holiday: ‘Strange Fruit’ Fearing the reaction of southern music retailers and the affiliates of the Columbia Records/CBS-owned radio stations, Columbia Records refused to allow her to record the song that was originally inspired by a photograph and news story about lynching in the South. After some negotiating, an arrangement was worked out between Columbia Records and the independent label; Commodore Records. The song was also banned from several radio stations in the US. Read more on www.billboard.com and www.americanbluesscene.com

• Maryam Mursal: ‘Somali Udiida Ceb’ Mursal made her living as a musical taxi driver, because she was banned from performing. She was taken in to custody, questioned by police, because her song ulimada is said to contain a devastating critique of the regime. Source: Ole Reitov, From diva to driver, in: Index of Censorship ‘Smashed Hits’ Volume 27 6/1998, p.74.

• Chiwoniso Maraire: ‘Zvichapera’ Originally a strong supporter of President Robert Mugabe’s land reforms in Zimbabwe, Chiwoniso Maraire started openly criticizing the lack of competence, the increasing corruption and lack of free speech. After experiencing interrogations by the police, she decided to leave Zimbabwe in 2007. Read more on www.listentothebanned.com

• Madonna: ‘Justify My Love’ MTV banned the music video because it contained scenes of sadomasochism, homosexuality, cross-dressing, and group sex. Read more on www.billboard.com and www.freemuse.org

• Kamilya Jubran (with Werner Hasler): ‘Al-Shaatte’ Al-Akhar’ Lead singer of Palestinian music group Sabreen representing the voice of resistance and struggle for freedom, Jubran went and created a new style of a modern Arabic song. As any other Palestinian artist carrying an Israeli passport, she is limited in her freedom of movement and in the distribution of her music. Read more on www.listentothebanned.com

• Hang on the box: ‘I am not sexy’ The girl punk band were forced to pull out of the NEW WORLD DISORDER TOUR after the Chinese government deemed their music as “inappropriate”. They were forced to cancel their scheduled dates after the government denied the band visas to travel. Read more on www.nme.com

• Alanis Morissette: ‘Ironic’ After the 9/11 attack in New York, a list of 160 “lyrically inappropriate” songs is supposed to have been distributed to 1,200 radio stations in the US. This song is one of them. You can find the list here: www.freemuse.org

• Deeyah: ‘Pashto Lullaby’ Deeyah stopped her career as a singer having been attacked and received threats on her. Read more on www.freemuse.org

• Tracy Chapman: ‘Freedom Now’ Two songs – ‘Freedom Now’ and ‘Material World’ – were considered undesirable by the censorship committee of South African Broadcasting Corporation, SABC. Read more on www.freemuse.org

Did you know that
Women are banned from singing in public in some countries
Women cannot attend a concert in some places
The music industry is still unequal

⇒ This is why Freemuse is focusing on women on Music Freedom Day on 3 March 2017

In Saudi Arabia and Iran women performers are not allowed to sing solo or play instruments in public. In north-western Pakistan women singers have been killed and attacked, and in several countries women performers are socially, culturally and economically marginalised and even considered prostitutes.

Globally women musicians face especially difficult conditions and are often subject to industry discrimination, sexual objectification and significantly less bookings than male musicians.

On 3 March 2017 Music Freedom Day makes a special focus on women performers and musicians.

Initiated by Freemuse, Music Freedom Day events are organised by local artists, event organisers, broadcasters, journalists and activists. They will highlight the role of women in music – either by creating events focused on women in music, showing solidarity with censored women artists or by creating programmes consisting mostly of female performers.

Freemuse recently presented the Freemuse Award to Zohra, the first ever women’s orchestra in Afghanistan. In a video statement concertmaster Marjan Fidaee said: “I support Music Freedom Day because I love music, and I want to open the door for other girls to play music.”

Ole Reitov, Freemuse Executive Director, added: “Zohra has inspired so many young women in Afghanistan and proved that women can fight back against discrimination and negative preconceptions.”

In 2016, Freemuse registered 1,028 attacks on artists and violations of their rights across 78 countries, continuing a worrying trend of artistic freedom increasingly coming under threat. Music was the art form that suffered the most serious violations of artistic freedom in 2016.

Music Freedom Day events will take place in Senegal, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, UAE, USA, Norway, Denmark, Italy, Spain and more.